🔍 Key Concepts

• IALA Maritime Buoyage System special marks (yellow) and their purpose • Differences between lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water, and special marks • Typical light characteristics used to make a special mark easily distinguishable from other aids

💭 Think About

• Which light rhythms are strongly associated with other specific types of buoys (for example, safe water marks or isolated danger marks)? • If a special mark must NOT be confused with a lateral or cardinal mark, what kind of light rhythm would be most logical to avoid? • Think about which rhythm patterns are used to convey a specific letter or meaning, and whether that fits the role of a general "special purpose" mark.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the standard light characteristic for safe water marks (red and white) and make sure you don’t pick that for a yellow special mark. • Check which rhythm is commonly associated with Morse identification of a single letter and what type of mark typically uses it. • Confirm which rhythms (flashing, occulting, equal interval) are more general types that can be adapted for various marks, including special marks.